There's a ton of video game based series out there right now, it's a popular genre particularly in manhwa. What sets this one apart, at least for me, is that it's not an isekai, the mc isn't physically transported to a new world and there aren't dungeons or anything opening up on Earth. Everything fantasy takes place in the VR game Satisfy, which is a global phenomenon and intensely popular. There's even news casts about events happening in the game, which was fun. The mc is a VR addict who spent years chasing a quest, only to flub it at the last second and changes his class. He takes on a legendary class, but ends up getting reset to level one, and then into the negatives due to a penalty. The story is about how he learns to use his new class attributes and begins making a name for himself in game. I liked the art, and while the story is pretty standard for this genre, I liked the main character enough to want to read more.

Do you like SAO when they're not actually trapped there? Or the SAO abridged? Cause this is basically that minus Kirito lol.

As an MMORPG player who would 100% play an MMO in VR, this manga was cool and I wanna be in it. The world is like if Final Fantasy XIV and Balders Gate 3 had a baby, it's massive and beautiful and unexplored and very cool. The way the game works too is also super cool.

The story itself is very funny. Lots of weird twists and turns and funny encounters. It definitely doesn't take itself too seriously, which is very refreshing in this genre.

Even the characters are cool. Granted, I kind of wish the NCPs had more NPC ish lines and reactions, cause they all seemed a little too real, but it's VR, who knows, maybes that's how NPCs will be by that point. That did however gave me more of an isekai feeling than a VR game feeling. Regardless, still good, the NPCs were memorable, the play characters even more so.

If you are looking for a solid ending? This isn't it. It ends like an anime episode that you gotta wait until the next one and by the time it gets there you gotta go back cause you kind of forget why it's in the middle of a thing. Not my favourite for manga, I much rather when they stop at the end of a small plot point but elude to the larger plot point, but ce la vie. It's pretty well my only real complaint.

If you're a gamer, give it a go. You'll probably enjoy it. I am definitely looking forward to future volumes and this would be one I would like to add to my physical collection.

Graphic novels that involve living in a video game reality are popular right now. Overgeared is a manhwa (Korean graphic novel) featuring Shin. Shin is depressed. His friends have ditched him because he is addicted to a video game, his family is disappointed and he can’t seem to shake his addiction. He is pouring all the money and time he has into the VR game Satisfy. The only way he sees forward is to follow through on the path he is on. Double down on the game.

When he receives a quest to find a special book, He spends a month and all his money to complete the quest. The books changes to a hidden special tome and Shin has thoughts of selling it for lots of cash on the internet instead of completing the quest. The game interprets his thoughts as failure to complete the cast and the group who gave him the quest come after Shin. He decides to use the tome to accept a Legendary class upgrade but he dies in the game before he can figure out what that means.

Becoming a legendary blacksmith apprentice is a unique class to Satisfy. Has Shin figured out a way to make something of himself and level up in the real world too?

A refreshing new look at the video game genre of graphic novels. Can’t wait to read volume 2. .

Overgeared Vol 1 was so much fun! It is a classic leveling up manga/graphic novel. The main character accidentally ends up at level negative 3 when he suddenly dies on a quest...but only after acquiring some seriously amazing items that help him to level up in the future. We follow this character on his journey to go from level -3 to try an win back his previous stats and maybe even go beyond!

This graphic novel was really enjoyable! It was humerous and really fast paced. I thought the illustrations were really well done, beautifully colored, and easy to determine what was going on in the plot. I would definitely be interested in continuing the series.

I think you will really like this if you are into Sword Art Online, and also if you are into books/games where you need to constantly level up. A great age range would be teens and adults.

5/5, highly recommend.

Thank yo netgalley for providing a free copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.